1633: Novel Therapy for Melanoma, Lymphoma, Meningioma and Nephroblastoma
Grant Status: Closed
Abstract
Spontaneous melanoma strikes an estimated 50,000 dogs each year. Even with aggressive treatment, the median survival time is < 1 year. Dr. Wilson's research group has identified a new class of drugs, S100B inhibitors, which prevent the growth of canine/human melanoma cells as well as in vivo murine tumors. Two of these inhibitors, pentamidine and chlorpromazine, are currently used in veterinary medicine to treat other diseases. Thus, it is a legitimate, and some would say from a patient, owner, and veterinarian's perspective, a compellingly urgent question as to whether these agents have clinical value in treating canine melanoma. The proposed study is a collaborative effort between basic scientists and clinicians, the goal of which is to determine if combined pentamidine/chlorpromazine therapy is safe for canine melanoma patients. There is a high probability that this research will culminate in the identification of a new disease modifying therapy that will alleviate suffering and improve survival for dogs, as well as other companion animals, suffering from melanoma. Finally, this therapy may also be useful in treating other veterinary cancers that exhibit increased S100B activity, including lymphomas, meningiomas, and nephroblastomas.
Publication(s)
None at this time.
Help Future Generations of Dogs
Participate in canine health research by providing samples or by enrolling in a clinical trial. Samples are needed from healthy dogs and dogs affected by specific diseases.